The owner of the car used to live in Alok Vihar but had recently moved away. However, his car had been damaged in an accident and he had not taken it with him when he moved.

The Noida health department on Wednesday filed a complaint against a Noida resident after mosquitoes responsible for dengue outbreak were found breeding in his car(Representative Photo)

The Noida health department on Wednesday filed a complaint against a Noida resident after mosquitoes responsible for dengue outbreak were found breeding in his car for the second time in a month. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, such a case has been lodged for the first time in Uttar Pradesh.

According to police, the complaint on charges of negligent and malignant act likely to spread infection of disease and danger to life according to the Indian Penal Code has been lodged against the man at filed at Sector 49 police station after car was found abandoned at a residential area in Alok Vihar-2, Sector 50, Noida.

“Breeding was found in the car about a month ago as well. We had imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 to the owner of the car on the basis of the quantum of damage to the number of people. However, he failed to pay the fine and the breeding continued. Recently, we received another complaint from residents of the area. Then we decided to take the tough step,” Rajesh Sharma, district malaria officer, Gautam Budh Nagar, said. He added that there are 64 families living in the vicinity that could get affected if the dengue mosquitoes continued to breed in the car.

Officials said the owner of the car used to live in Alok Vihar but had recently moved away. However, his car had been damaged in an accident and he had not taken it with him when he moved.

According to officials from the health department, notices have been given and penalties have been imposed, but a complaint has never been filed against anyone in violation of the Vector Borne Diseases Act, or for breeding of any kind of larvae. The move also received accolades from higher officials in the department.

“It is a great step by G B Nagar and all districts should act proactively. This act is definitely a milestone in the vector borne diseases program,” Dr Mithilesh Chatturvedi, director vector borne disease (health department), said.

According to chief medical officer Dr Anurag Bhargava, a serious action was impending as several penalties had been filed but many of the offenders were not turning up to pay fines. This year, no dengue case has been confirmed in the district so far.

Before initiating action, the health department had issued a set of directions in April through a public notice against any activity that would lead to breeding of mosquitoes. Any activity violating these directions, the notice stated, could lead to punishment under the UP prevention and control of malaria, dengue, kala azar regulations, 2016.”